2003 Mercedes-Benz M Class recalls and problems

The 2003 Mercedes-Benz M Class has 3 recalls and 10 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

How the 2003 compares

High

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 8 M Class model years — 3rd most.

3recalls

10complaints

1crashes

1fires

3injuries

24,368median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Vehicle Speed Control

Mar 31, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V208000 · 136,751 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 1999-2002 m-class and model year 2000-2003 m-class amg vehicles. The cruise control system in the affected vehicles allows the driver to disengage the system in a number of ways, including tapping the brake pedal, using the cruise control stalk, or braking the vehicle enough to reach a certain rate of deceleration. Mercedes-Benz has determined that under certain circumstances use of the brake pedal May not automatically disengage cruise control as expected by the driver, although the other means of deactivating cruise control remain fully operative. Specifically, where the driver pumps the brakes rather than applying consistent pedal force, the level of force required May be unusually high.

Original NHTSA wording

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2002 M-CLASS AND MODEL YEAR 2000-2003 M-CLASS AMG VEHICLES. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, INCLUDING TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL, USING THE CRUISE CONTROL STALK, OR BRAKING THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO REACH A CERTAIN RATE OF DECELERATION. MERCEDES-BENZ HAS DETERMINED THAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES USE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY NOT AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL AS EXPECTED BY THE DRIVER, ALTHOUGH THE OTHER MEANS OF DEACTIVATING CRUISE CONTROL REMAIN FULLY OPERATIVE. SPECIFICALLY, WHERE THE DRIVER PUMPS THE BRAKES RATHER THAN APPLYING CONSISTENT PEDAL FORCE, THE LEVEL OF FORCE REQUIRED MAY BE UNUSUALLY HIGH.

Risk: Difficulty or delay in disengaging cruise control can increase the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

DIFFICULTY OR DELAY IN DISENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began during October 2011. Owners May contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes-Benz campaign number is 2011090001.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Steering

Sep 17, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V465000 · 125,228 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz is recalling 125,228 my 1998-2004 m-class vehicles. The hose clamp used to secure the power steering fluid cooling hose to the power steering fluid cooler May not provide sufficient clamping force for this connection.

Original NHTSA wording

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 125,228 MY 1998-2004 M-CLASS VEHICLES. THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.

Risk: The loss of power steering fluid May result in diminished power steering over time and ultimately can damage the power steering pump. This could result in a loss of control and a crash without warning.

Original NHTSA wording

THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy & notes

An earlier recall repair performed on these vehicles May not be sufficient to prevent a future leakage or failure of the power steering hose connection (please see 03V121). Since it is not possible through inspection to identify specific vehicles that May not have been properly repaired, all vehicles repaired prior to November 15, 2003, will be repaired again. The recall is expected to begin during November 2008. Owners May contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes-Benz recall no. 2003040005.customers May contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Steering

Mar 27, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V121000 · 211,000 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the hose clamp used to secure the power steering fluid cooling hose to the power steering fluid cooler May not provide sufficient clamping force for this connection.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.

Risk: The loss of power steering fluid May result in diminished power steering over time and ultimately can damage the power steering pump.

Original NHTSA wording

THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install a new hose clamp on the power steering hose to the power steering cooler. During clamp replacement, the power steering cooling hose will be inspected and replaced as necessary. Owner notification began June 16, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes-Benz recall no. 2003-040005.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK

RQ08002 · opened Mar 11, 2008 · closed Sep 17, 2008 · led to recall 08V465000

Summary

MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) WILL NOTIFY CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 THROUGH 2003 M-CLASS OWNERS OF THE NEED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES INTO DEALERS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PREVIOUSLY CAMPAIGNED UNDER MBUSA RECALL 2003-040005 (NHTSA RECALL 03V-121).THE MBUSA CAMPAIGN, WHICH ODI IS DESIGNATING RECALL 08V-465, WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE AND CLAMP IN ALL VEHICLES THAT RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL RECALL REMEDY FOR 03V-121 AND WHICH HAVEN'T RECEIVED A SUBSEQUENT REPAIR TO INSTALL A REVISED HOSE AND CLAMP.APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE VEHICLES THAT RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL REPAIR PROCEDURE AND PARTS RETURNED FOR SUBSEQUENT SERVICE FOR LEAKAGE FROM THE HOSE FITTING AND, IN APPROXIMATELY 10 PERCENT OF THESE VEHICLES, COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE HOSE FROM THE COOLER.A REVISED SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR 03V-121, WHICH INVOLVED REPLACING THE OLD HOSE AND CLAMP WITH MODIFIED PARTS, HAD SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RATES OF RETURN REPAIRS.MBUSA WILL APPLY THE REVISED SERVICE PROCEDURE FROM 03V-121 TO THE VEHICLES COVERED UNDER 08V-465.ACCORDINGLY THIS RECALL QUERY IS CLOSED.

2003 vs. other Mercedes-Benz M Class years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz M Class have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Mercedes-Benz M Class, the latest from Mar 31, 2011 (vehicle speed control). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mercedes-Benz M Class?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (4), engine (2), seats (2). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.